India: The National Defence Academy (NDA), India, is all set to establish the first ever GIS laboratory, amongst all the military institutions in the country. Proposed in July, the laboratory is expected to be complete within a year from now.
“Future wars will be all about technology and efficient use of information systems. The GIS plays an important role in military applications such as keeping a watch on important aspects of the battlefield, movement of enemy and their resources, deployment of war machinery on the war front by the enemies, topographical details of the war zone and so on. The cadets of our Armed Forces will be equipped with theoretical and practical knowledge regarding GIS because of this laboratory,” said Major Bhagirath Dey, spokesperson, NDA.
The INR 50-lakh project that received a nod from the Service Headquarters will include a 100-seater laboratory with 50 computers, specially crafted GIS software for defence purposes and heavy duty printers. “We already have trained and qualified staff in GIS. With the help of the software, cadets will be introduced to images of various terrains captured from aerial platform by our satellites and UAVs or flights. The cadets will be tactically trained on the operational aspects of GIS,” added Major Dey.
GIS, a crucial tool for navigation, is of relevance to all the three services — Army, Navy and the Air Force. “We at the NDA are sure that this will help them dominate the battlefield,” he added.
Source: Indian Express
